The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-21

OBJECTS.
In every civilized country in this
wide world you often see men with
little gold and enamel pins attached to
their vest lapels, which signify their
membership in some secret society or
beneficial order with secret work. To
see man with two or three of these
little badges attacked to his vest, or
dangling from his watch chain, one
would imagine they were worn for
show That is not the idea. In times
past the presence of one of these deli
cate little emblemS has been of inesti-
mable value to the wearer in times of
danger or sickness, and even in death
they have led to the Identification of
the poor stranger who had died away
from home, friendleSs and alone. In
stances of the great value Of little
pin are numerous, and they will be
worn SO long as secret societies exist
and men grow up to join them.
While there are men who parade
their symbols for display, to advance
their business interests and for selfish
purposes, the majority of men wear
them because they are valuable in
more ways than one, and show them
to be friends and brothers. No man
who belongs to any secret society of
any prominence should leave his home
without a badge or some other proof
of his fraternal standing. Then, in
case of accident or sickness, the en-
blem speaks the unwritten language Of
the fraternity, and aid is at hand.
Probably the badge that is worn the
most among secret society men is the
the square, cOmpaSseS and &c" 1t is
always small-the smaller the better.
\ brother Mason will always see the
pin, no matter how small the design.
The badge is made Of gold, and con-
sists of square and cOn1Yasses, with a
''G'' in the center. What this letter
means is known only by MasonS. Free
masonry is the Oldest secret order in
the world. 1t is said to have been es-
tablished by King Solomon during the
building of the Temple. London is
conceded to be the home of modern
Masonry. Until 1923 there were no
masonic lodges in this country. In
that year, under the direction of the
Grand lodge of England, the first lodge
was organized in Manhattan-nOW
New YOrk-and was chartered as St,
Johns No. l, F. and y. NJ. From that
time Masonry has grown i'll the new
world until now each state has its
grand lodge, which has under its con-
troll all the lodges in the state. indie
pendent of all foreign power, although
representatives from foreign grand
lodges meet with the grand lodges of
the various states. How valuable has
bSen the possession of one of these lit
tie emblemS is well known. One Of
the strangeSt stories is connected
with the Brooklyn theater fire. \ body
was found-burned beyond recogni-
ton. One hand was claSped tightly
under the chin, as if shielding some
thing. The fingers were tenderly
opened and a discolored, heat-twisted
masonic pin fell out. BY this the body
was identified.
There are thirty-three degrees in
Masonry. Those who have taken the
chapter degree wear white enamel
keystone badge with these letters: X.
S. II. L. w. s. S. Il. The meaning of
the letters is secret.
The more advanced members of the
order wear special badges, symbolic of
their standing.
The Knight Templars wear a NAL
tese cross, in the center of which is
skull resting on cross bones. In the
enamel cross are the words: 'In Hoe
SignO VinceS." New York has about
as fine body of Templars as exist in
any state in the Union. and their
marching and drills are marvels of ac-
curacy. The order originated with
the crusaders in Ills, when nine
knights swore by st. Augustine to de-
vote their lives, swords, arms and
strength to defense of the mysteries
of the Christian faith.
Late in the eighteenth century an
attempt was made to organize an or
der to consist of men who would help
one another, and to be founded on
some of the Masonic principles. In
1919 the order was established and
named the Odd Fellows. The motto
is Friendship, Love and Truth, and the
the three connected links. 1t
is popular and powerful order.
The badge of the Red Men is shield
by an eagle, ON the breast of
which is a smaller shield with the let
ters f. G. T. On the big shield is a
tent with dark background. Under |
the tent are the words Freedom. Char |
ity, Friendship. The Red Men is a |
beneficial order and very successful in
every way. There are a great many |
New Workers who are known as Red |
Men, and they carry out the motto of
their order to a letter. Like most |
other secret society badges, this is
made of gold and enamel.
Probably the oldest beneficial society
by the assessment plan is
.he Ancient Order of United Work
men. The idea of such an order
originated with a mechanic at Mead
vile, Pa, in 1868, and was Immediate
y put into operation. As soon as the
dea was made known it found ready
and councils were formed all
over the country. The order now OK
ENDS from Maine to Texas and from
California to New York. Now there
ire 1901 members, and the order is
he strongest of its kind.
Almost everybody recognizes the
words Knights of Pythias, and almost
has seen them. Their
beautiful figure drills and uniforms
Ire well known. The badge is the
worn by any order, and is